Kentucky VIM Team was a blessing from God!

First, many of you asked enjoyed last year's Advent Readings and asked us to do it again, so we have made a new one for 2019 that you can use at home.  This can also be an used to print as an insert for your church bulletin.  Included with the Daily Advent Readings is our latest newsletter.  Please print it out, read it and post it at your church bulletin board or in your Sunday School class..  Here is the link that you can click on to download > https://drive.google.com/file/d/1wyYtr1ZBrMMJf1CIvVTy7D-d8_Knp9S7/view?usp=sharing

Next, we want to thank you for your prayers for the Kentucky VIM Team that served last month.  We traveled long distances, and your prayers kept us all safe.  This was the first VIM team that we have had to focus on the Pioneer Pastor Program. Previous teams focused on Blessing Home centers and locations for future centers.  This is why we had to travel so much, because Thailand is a large nation and this ministry is a nationwide ministry.

This team was here to Prayer Walk together with Thai Christians, to do Mini-English Camps, and to participate in 2 important ceremonies, the 2019 Commencement Event of Global Theological Institute, and the Grand Opening Ceremony of the new church building of Fire of Glory Church.

Prayer Walking was new to the Thai pastors and also new to some of the VIM team members.  This is when you walk the streets of the neighborhood and silently pray for all of the households in that neighborhood.  The Thai pastors were VERY EXCITED about Prayer Walking, and they wanted to make sure that all of the power of prayer could be brought to their neighborhoods as possible.  So when the Thai pastors at two locations organized their prayer walks, we had no idea that they were going to take the team on marathon walks.  We split up into several groups that went different directions.  Then we began to walk and pray, and walk and pray, and walk some more.  We started to think "surely they are going to loop back soon, we have walked for a long time in the heat, but instead the pastors had us keep walking.  We knew this was a real challenge for the team who was not accustomed to the tropical heat, but they were real troopers!  Some had blisters from walking such a long distance, and we knew we had to tell the Thai pastors to please limit the walking next time.  We knew the pastors wanted to have as many households be covered with prayer as possible.

The team held three English mini-camps.  One at Blessing Home Isan, another at Abundant Blessings Church in Sukhothai, and another at Prasiri UMC in Bangkok.  They played games, and did 2 crafts that presented the gospel message.  And one of our Thai staff, Teddy, did a gospel presentation.  The children were touched by the Bible messages presented by the team and they had a blast!  The team had fun with the kids too.

The team also were prayer warriors.  They visited shut-ins and prayed.  They prayed for children at the English Mini-Camps.  They prayed for leaders and church members at the churches.  This ministry of prayer was greatly appreciated by the Thai Christians.  The prayers of God's people move mountains!

The team also participated in the Commencement Ceremony for Global Theological Institute.  Their presence as "dignitaries" provided an international connection and affirmation for the 20 graduates who worked hard to earn their B.Min. and M.Min degrees.  3 of the graduates are Pioneer Pastors.  Pastors Det and Dao serve at Life Center Church at TaPhraya and are also Directors of the Blessing Home TaPhraya Center.  It took them two days of hard travel by pickup truck to get to Chiang Dao where the ceremony was being held.  On the way home, their left front tire blew out and they lost control of their pickup truck.  They spun out of control and into the trees on the side of the highway.  And your prayers protected them.  No one was harmed.  The pickup had to be repaired, but it is just machinery.

Pastor Dao with Dr. Tanapong, President of Global Theological Institute

Pastor Det with Dr. Tanapong

Dr. James Wafford, Dr. Loletuth Kalz, and Dr. John Kalz pray for the graduates

The other Pioneer Pastor graduate was Pastor Prik of Sawi Church.  Pastor Prik and her husband and family also travelled for two days to arrive at the graduation ceremony.

Pastor Prik receiving her diploma from Dr. Sherri Morrissey

Valedictorian address

The team also participated in the Grand Opening Celebration of the new Fire of Glory Church Building.  It was a joyous occassion, and the team represented all of you who prayed for this project and who gave generously to make it happen.  Your prayers and generosity changes lives in Thailand.  And this church has already helped to plant many other churches.  And they will continue to spread the gospel, not only in their city but also throughout the nation.

Finally, an update on fundraising for Phase One of the Training Center (purchase land, build retainer wall, and fill up land by at least 5 feet).  The goal is $80,000 by the end of the year.  We now have received a little over $23,000!  Praise the Lord!  Keep Praying!

Please pray, and as the Lord leads you, give as well.  Please be sure to designate your gift for the "Building Fund" if you want your donation to go towards the Training Center.

You can give online at https://thailandmethodist.org/donate/

OR

Send a check to:

TMM
Box 56
Mannsville, KY 42758